WMMS Tiger Times
Fostering Community. Empowering Students.
May 2022
Greetings from WMMS!
How can it be May already?! This year has flown by! As we are finishing up MAP testing, winding down the year, and preparing for summer school, I want to take just a minute to thank you for your support this year. Middle school students never cease to amaze me with their kindness, generosity, courage, and heart. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with your students!
I look forward to celebrating our 8th graders as they prepare to move on to high school. I can't wait to hear about all the amazing things they will do in the next four years! As a new "empty-nester," I know how busy those years can be. I encourage you to maintain or establish some traditions with your students so that these next four years don't get away from you.
We are still taking registrations for summer school. In order to have transportation for the first week of summer school, your registration must be turned in by May 4. Check out the summer school information below. We hope to see many familiar faces and look forward to meeting our incoming 6th graders!
Make sure to check out all of the activities and resources listed in the newsletter this month!
Have a great end to your school year!
Sincerely,
Julie Esquivel, WMMS Principal
Students of the Week
Each week our grade level teams nominate students for a Student of the Week award. The student names are announced as a part of our Friday morning announcements and students receive a certificate and a treat from the office. Students are celebrated for academics, citizenship, or improvement in any number of ways.
April Students of the Week:
CATS (6th grade): Stevin Moore, Jenna Snyder, Ellie Athon, Addy Brawner, Eva Hodges
STARS (6th grade): Rylan Gatewood, Eva Bowen, Karleigh White, Braelyn Johns, Noah Deblauw, Chloe Simmons
Eagles (7th grade): Morgan Lange, Caitlin Pinkerton, Trabelsi Muamba
Mag 7 (7th grade): Jensen Deleeuw, Andrew Denton
8th grade: Will Baker, Briana Sharp, Kyle Creegen, Ali Nurrohman, Gavin Wood
Congratulations WMMS Students!
MAP Testing Updates
8th Grade will test May 2-4 and some will take the Algebra I EOC on May 5&6. We know they will shine! And Sonic will treat them too!
Thank you to our families for helping get students to school on time, rested and ready to go every day! It truly makes a difference!
8th Grade Promotion
8th Grade Families,
We are excited to invite you to our 3rd annual 8th-grade Promotion Parade! Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our 8th grade class and wishing them well as they start their High School career!
Promotion Parade: Wednesday, May 18 from 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm (Rain or Shine)
WMMS Staff will line the parking lots east of the middle school (between KPS and WMMS) and the parking lot north of the middle school (between WMMS and KHS) to cheer our students on as they drive by.
Traffic will flow one way in from Hamilton Street traveling north between KPS and WMMS, turning west into the WMMS parking lot, and then traveling north toward KHS as a symbolic drive toward the high school and the next four years of their lives (see map below).
This year we plan to add a few features to our parade. We will attempt to announce student names as their car pulls into the parking lot north of the middle school, we will have music playing, the KHS Drumline & Flag Core, our Kirksville Tiger mascot will be here, and our PTC is creating a picture spot in the KPS parking lot so you can get a picture before the parade to commemorate the event!
You can park in front of KPS as you wait for the parade to begin. There will be a spot to take pictures here before you start the parade.
As you enter the parade route, you will be handed a name card. Please print the name(s) of the student(s) in the car and be ready to hand it to the staff member as you turn left into the north parking lot.
Continue to drive to the KHS parking lot to exit the parade.
A few safety notes:
The parade route is open for 45 minutes to allow for spacing of cars and prevent backup on Hamilton Street. For the safety of all involved, we will ask that you stay in your vehicles and do not stop while driving through the parade route.
Please stay alert while driving slowly along the route.
Watch for people standing along the parade route.
Only vehicles driven by adults will be allowed in the parade.
Students will receive their promotion certificates at school on Thursday, May 19 at 8:00 am. Families are welcome to attend. Please park in the north or east parking lots and avoid the bus loop. Families can enter the building beginning at 7:50 am. You will be able to take pictures during the event.
Mental Health Awareness Contest
May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
The (NAMI) National Association of Mental Illness local chapter is holding a contest. We hear people around us talking about mental health and the importance of having good mental health, but what does that mean to you?
Answer the question: “What does mental health mean to me?” in an essay, poem, song, piece of art, or some other medium. Get creative and share what mental health means to you! Entries should be turned into the office by Friday, May 6th and will be entered into a drawing for prizes.
Make sure to label your submission with your name, grade and advisory teacher’s name
Mental Health Minute
One of the most important factors in recovery is the understanding and acceptance of friends. Friends can make a difference by offering reassurance, companionship, and emotional strength. Here are some tips on how to help:
- When a friend shares their worries, express your interest and concern. Ask questions, listen to ideas, and be responsive.
- Ask what you can do to help.
- If other people make insensitive remarks, don't ignore them - educate people so that they understand the facts about mental illness.
- Treat people with respect, compassion, and empathy.
- Take some time to learn about mental illness.
Some resources to learn more about mental health:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) https://www.samhsa.gov/
- National Institutes of Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
- National Alliance on Mental Health https://www.nami.org/home
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800)273-8255
Notes from the Nurse's Office
VACCINE REMINDER
Reminder to all incoming 8th graders (current 7th graders): You will need a t-dap booster and Meningococcal vaccination before the start of school this fall.- If you already have these, please provide a copy of vaccination records to the William Matthew Middle School Nursing Office.
- If you do not want your child to receive the mandatory 8th grade vaccinations parents must provide a religious or medical exemption. Medical exemptions can be obtained via a physician. Religious exemptions can be obtained from the Adair County Health Department.
- If your student needs to get the vaccinations, the following places offer them: Adair County Health Department or surrounding health departments, CARES center, your student's primary care physician, Walgreens.
MEDICATION REMINDER
Parents of students who keep medications in the nursing office, will need to pick up their student's remaining medications by the end of the school day on May 19. An email will be sent to these parents as we get closer to the end of the school year. Only exceptions to this would be any student who is doing summer school whose parent requests the medications stay at the school.
Contact Nurse Gabby at WMMS with any questions!
Summer Assistance
Summer is quickly approaching so here is some information about ways our community will be helping kids and families. Our local YMCA has teamed up with The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and will be providing lunch to children during the summer months when children do not have access to free or reduced-price lunches at school.
Free sack lunches will be provided from June 1, 2022 through Aug 19, 2022 at the following locations;
JC Park
Rotary Park
Willard School
Brashear Park
PC Mills Park
Memorial Park
Kirksville Fire Department
First Assembly of God Church
Newton Mobile Home Couty
Cresthaven Mobile Home Court
Eastern Village Mobile Home Court
Town and Country Mobile Home Court
Specific times for all locations will be released at a later date. Fun activities will be provided at each site! No registrations or applications are required. You can contact the YMCA at 660-665-1922 for more information.
The Pantry for Adair County (PAC) is available to assist in providing supplemental food for those food insecure residents of Adair County, MO. PAC intends to distribute fresh produce as available, meats, and other grocery products, using the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri (the Food Bank) as a primary resource, along with local donations from groceries and individuals. The Pantry for Adair County is located at 2012 S. Halliburton St. in Kirksville.
Hours of Operation are
Tuesday 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Friday 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
You must bring a photo ID and bill with a current name and address. If obtaining food for a child you must bring their social security card. Families can obtain food from this pantry once per calendar month.
For more information about the Pantry for Adair County call 660-488-5261.
If you or someone you know is struggling with food insecurity you can contact our School Socal Worker, Tiffany LaBeth at 660-665-3793.
CARES Center
The Complete Family Medicine CARES Center is a school-based health center formed through a partnership between the Kirksville R-III School District and Complete Family Medicine. “CARES” stands for “Care At R-III for Every Student.” The purpose of the center is to provide accessible and affordable health services on-site at the school district’s campus to students, faculty, and staff. Students under 18 MUST have consent from their parent/guardian to be seen at the center.
We welcome walk-ins and offer same day
appointments, along with after school hours!
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm
Location: Kirksville Area Technical Center building 1103 S Cottage Grove - North Entrance
Phone: (660)956-7011
We will also be open for summer school starting May 31st to June 30th! Our hours will be Mon-Fri 7:30-4pm.
Adair County Public Library Summer Program
JBA, Jr.
Truman State University will offer JBA Junior July 11-15 for up to 50 students who are currently in grades 4-6. Registration opens April 4. Click here for more information.
The JBA Junior Mission
We want students at JBA Junior to learn, explore, and have fun! We also want them to believe that college is a real and attainable future goal.
JBA Junior gives area youth enhanced access to Truman State University. The program aims to give area students a chance to broaden their horizons by spending time learning and exploring at Truman, guided by our faculty and staff. Our goal is to spark students’ interests through engaging and diverse classes and activities. Our hope is that students attending JBA Junior will walk away encouraged and excited to learn and grow beyond the school day.
About the Academy
JBA Junior is the “younger sibling” to the highly popular Joseph Baldwin Academy. For over 30 years, Truman State University has hosted junior high students during the summer months. Now we begin a new chapter, welcoming upper elementary students to participate in JBA Junior: a one-week day program filled with engaging academic opportunities for students from the Northeast Missouri region. Among the engaging activities we have planned are:
8th Grade Social Contract
Listen
Effort
No Put-Downs
Respect
Responsible
Forgiving
Treating and acting maturely
Cooperative
Patience/time
Honest
Kindness
Don’t pressure others
7th Grade Social Contract
Respect
Equality
Safe
Kind
Accepting
Understanding
Patience
SOLAR
Motivating
Honesty
Cooperative
Positive
Golden Rule
Honor
Calm
No Judging
Motivating
Patience
Considerate
Responsible
6th Grade Social Contract
Fair
Consistent
Respectful
Responsible
Effort
Considerate
Calm
Listen
Golden Rule
Helpful
Accepting
Kind
Forgiving
Safe
Encouraging
No Put-Downs
Honest
Positive
Cooperative
Understanding
Calendar of Events
- May 2-4 8th Grade MAP Testing
- May 2-6: WMMS Book Fair
- May 3: WMMS Track @ Macon 4:00 pm
- May 5-6: Algebra I EOC Testing
- May 5: WMMS Track - Home 2:00 pm
- May 10: WMMS Band Concert 6th grade @ 6:30, 7th grade @ 7:00, 8th grade @ 7:30
- May 11: National School Nurse Day and School Board Meeting 6:00 pm
- May 17: WMMS Choir Concert 6:30 pm in the WMMS Auditorium
- May 18: 8th Grade Promotion Parade 6:30 - 7:15 pm WMMS parking lot (see above)
- May 19: 8th Grade Promotion Certificates 8:00 am WMMS Auditorium
- May 19: Last Day of School - Early Out 12:45
- May 31 - June 30 Summer School 7:50 am - 3:05 pm
- STUDY HALL: Every day at 7:10 -7:43 am in the computer lab (no study hall on late start days)
- Choraliers: Monday and Friday mornings at 7:15 am
- FCA: Thursday mornings at 7:15 am in room S7 with Mr. Cook (Dcook@kirksville.k12.mo.us)
2021-2022 School Calendar
On a regular school day, the building opens at 7:10 and first hour begins at 7:48. Students who plan to eat breakfast at school should be here by 7:30 to have enough time to eat and make it to class on time.
Late Start: When we run a late-start, each building will begin 2 hours later than normal. For WMMS that means our building will open at 9:10 and first hour will begin at 9:48. Students will be dismissed at 2:45. The bell schedule for early out is located in the student handbook that is linked later in the newsletter. Breakfast is not served on late-start days.
Remaining scheduled late start dates: April 11.
The District may also use a late start due to inclement weather. See the District Transportation webpage for complete details.
Early Out: On early-out days, the middle school will dismiss at 12:45.
Remaining scheduled early-out dates: May 19
The District may also use early outs due to inclement weather. See the District Transportation webpage for complete details.
Tyler SIS Parent Portal
Tiger Alerts! Textcaster
Kirksville R-III Calendar
Who should I call?
Scheduling/Student Concerns: Mrs. Yoder (6th grade and Mag 7) and Mrs. McConnell (8th grade and Eagles) are here to help! (660) 665-3793 extension 4
Medical Concerns: Nurse Gabby can help if your child has medical needs or if you have questions about your child's health. (660) 665-3793 extension 5
Classroom Questions: The easiest way to reach your child's teacher is via email. Click here for a list of emails.
Transportation: If you have a question about your child's bus or about signing your child up to ride the bus, please contact the transportation office at (660) 626-1444.
General Questions: If you are not sure who to contact for your specific question, our amazing office secretaries, Mrs. Parsons and Mrs. Reed, can help answer your question or connect you to the right person. (660) 665-3793
CARES Center
Purpose: To provide accessible and affordable urgent/walk-in and preventative/well health services on-site at the school district’s campus to students, faculty, and staff. Students will not be able to be seen at the center without the consent from their parent/guardian. (*We are currently able to do some appointments via virtual/telehealth visits.)
Location: The center is located in the northwest corner of the Kirksville Area Technical Center (KATC) at 1103 South Cottage Grove. Using the north entrance to the building, the CARES Center lobby is the first door on the right. There will be limited, designated patient parking west of the entrance.
Hours of Operation: 7:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday
Some of the Services Provided at the CARES Center: Urgent/Walk-in care, Preventative Care, Wellness Visits, Immunizations (free for medicaid eligible and uninsured students through VFC and billed as normal for commercial), Flu Vaccine, Sports Physicals, Point-of-Care Testing (ie - Rapid Strep and Influenza Testing), can arrange for COVID testing if needed.
Team at the CARES Center: Provider (either Physician or Nurse Practitioner), Licensed Nurse, and Clinic Coordinator
Complete Family Medicine CARES Center at (660)956-7011